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the huts daily, distributing to each person three half-loaves of bread, a Scotch pint of ale and any other necessities. A special storehouse manned by two storekeepers was built to accommodate the provisions. The huts were cleaned by "foul clengeris" who wore a distinctive uniform described as "ane joupe of blak with a St. Andrew's Cross of quhyte clayth sewit about with the sam for designing and knawing of thame be utheris". Clothing was disinfected by boiling in large iron cauldrons. Clothing that could not be so treated was burned, or placed in kilns to subject it to the smoke and heat of burning heather and whins. One such kiln in the form of a converted castle
88:
393:
538:
366:, about a mile south of the Links. Apart from a few exceptions in South Leith Kirkyard, the dead were buried on the Links, wrapped in the coarse blankets in which they had lain. After the outbreak had abated Aldinstone, a fortunate survivor, reported to the Session on 3 February 1646 that the number of fatalities for South Leith amounted to 2,421 (out of an estimated population in excess of 4,000), for Restalrig 160 and Craigend (i.e. Calton) 155, making a total of 2,736 for the whole parish. No records have survived in respect of the smaller parish of North Leith.
19:
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322:
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164:
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From then various edges of the Links were gradually developed, those to the south-east being largely from the early 19th century and particularly grand. These houses, as well as both the eastern and western sections of the Links, feature prominently in the Leith-based political crime novel - Kertamen by Mauro
Martone. The majority of buildings facing the Links are the first building on their site and most date from the 19th century. A group of
357:
An entry for 17 July, when it was "ordained to provyd some wemen to help to fill ye cairts " suggests there was a shortage of able-bodied men for cleansing the town. The women were drawn mainly from the infected, although female prisoners were also put to work. The bailies and quartermasters visited
150:
in 1560, English and
Scottish troops made use of the area to create siege trenches. Two mounds on Leith Links, known as "Giant's Brae" and "Lady Fyfe's Brae", identified on later maps as "Somerset's Battery" and "Pelham's Battery" respectively, are scheduled monuments as artillery mounds created for
400:
Leith Links originally lay wholly to the east of medieval Leith. Only from 1770 onwards did local law permit building outwith the old town wall. The first development was on the extreme north-west corner (now Queen
Charlotte Street) where three roughly identical villas were constructed around 1775.
353:
appointed to co-ordinate their activities reported initially that "he cannot gait up ane list of the names and ludges in the Linkes becaus none will go with him", but by 17 July he had succeeded in handing in "a paper book of paper wrytin on both sides...divyding the Ludges, who buildit thm, to qm
305:
The plague which struck Leith in 1645 was only one of many periodic outbreaks of plague that occurred in
Edinburgh and Leith between the 14th and 17th centuries. The historian Christopher Smout believes that the 1645 epidemic, which occurred at a time when warring armies were on the march, probably
288:
As part of the remodelling in 1888 various discoveries were made: foremost of these were two burial areas at either end of the Links. That to the extreme west, in the triangle of land isolated by
Wellington Place, was surmised to be burial pits from an outbreak of the plague which affected Leith in
284:
The entire area was only formalised as a public park (as opposed to a public open space) in 1888 as part of the Leith
Improvement Plan. At this time the area was levelled (other than the two surmised gun batteries) and planted with trees along its perimeter and several paths dividing the area. Cast
159:
House. The tradition that these two batteries were on the Links goes no further back than
Campbell's "History of Leith" published in 1827. Lent authority by the Ordnance Survey 1852, the identification saved the mounds in 1888 when several other hillocks were removed during landscaping.
53:. This public park is divided by a road into two main areas, a western section and an eastern section, both being largely flat expanses of grass bordered by mature trees. Historically it covered a wider area extending north as far as the shoreline of the
189:
The same
Alexander Elphinstone, who had riches but no employment, appears in a more dramatic event on 23 December 1729 when he challenged Lt Swift of Lord Cardigan's Regiment to a duel (with swords) on Leith Links. Elphinstone mortally wounded Swift.
552:
408:
Allotment gardens were created on the north-east edge during World War II and still remain. The industrial hinterland here originally held ropeworks and cooperages but for most of the 20th century operated as a bottling plant for
285:
iron railings enclosing the entire area were erected but these were removed during World War II as part of the war effort. Following the creation of the park, golf was discouraged, but was not officially banned here until 1905.
604:
213:
building on Duke Street, on the south-west corner of the Links. A commemorative cairn and plaque marks this connection at the western side of the park. The rules of golf developed in Leith were adopted by the
416:
Seafield
Cemetery was developed at the extreme east end of Leith Links in 1887. Seafield Crematorium stands at the far east side of the cemetery, with a separate access from Seafield Road. It opened in 1939.
297:
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During works in the playground of St Mary's RC Primary School (on the north edge of Leith Links) the remains of 79 bodies were found, thought to be victims of the plague. They were interred in
971:
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197:. Records show a 5-hole golf course which was typically played round twice. It had been played for a long time up until shortly before 1824, and was revived again in 1864. Both
537:
354:
thei appertaine, how many people were in everie Ludge". However, he seems to have fallen victim to the plague because an entry for 20 July names someone else as overseer.
80:, was established in 1852 as the Leith Franklin cricket club. The club has a clubhouse outside, but adjacent to, the park next to the Seafield Bowling Club's enclosed
333:
reveal that the first cases of "the pest" appeared in
Yardheads in April 1645 and that the outbreak reached its height that summer. David Alderstone, member of the
215:
349:
measure the infected were removed to huts on the Links, divided into quarters corresponding to those in the town and similarly placed under quartermasters. An
76:
In the east section an informal cricket pitch has existed since 1826. It is used by Leith Franklin Academicals Beige cricket club which, taking its name from
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shows that Pelham's Battery was built on the slope to the south of Leith Links and Somerset's battery was located adjacent to the present
87:
1198:
315:
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was playing golf on Leith Links in 1642 when he received news of the Irish rebellion. Games were frequently the subject of betting and
813:
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The west side of the Links is dominated by the two large school buildings: Leith Primary and the former Leith Academy building by
111:
Historically the park contained a Victorian bandstand, a pond for model yachts, and was used for annual events such as pageants.
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The west section of the park contains children's play areas, football pitches and, in the north-west corner, and tennis and
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73:
courts. There are also three disused bowling greens due to be redeveloped into a new activity centre and community space.
817:
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580:
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1128:
341:, left a unique, detailed record of the epidemic. The town was divided into quarters, each under the supervision of a
940:
330:
128:
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34:
484:. Losses to disease have to some extent been made good by planting of disease-resistant elm-cultivars such as
229:
played two English courtiers for national claim to the game of golf. The game resulted in the construction of
301:
Memorial plaque to 79 plague victims removed from Leith Links in 2017 and buried in Rosebank Cemetery in 2018
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with stops on Vanburgh Place, Hermitage Place, East Hermitage Place, Links Place and Seafield Place.
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charged with ascertaining the number of infected in each quarter and supplying them with food. As a
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Memorials plaques on Giant's Brae and Lady Fyfe's Brae explaining their military significance.
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491:. Elms were originally preferred for planting because of their tolerance of salty sea-winds.
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It is believed the first international golf contest took place at the links, when the
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460:. Of some 270 mature trees in the park in 2013, just under half were elms. Most are
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Edinburgh's Green Heritage: Discovering the Capital's Parks, Woodlands and Wildlife
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bet 20 guineas in a match against Alexander Elphinstone (d.1732), brother of
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were said to have played golf on the links while they were in residence at
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652:"Leith Links Activity Hub - City of Edinburgh Council - Citizen Space"
310:. It may have been carried north by Scottish soldiers present at the
307:
156:
57:. This area of grass and former sand-dunes was previously used as a
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849:
Tait, H P (1966). "Two Notable Epidemics In Edinburgh and Leith".
380:
239:
42:
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Memorial cairn to the founding of golf on the site - on west edge
828:
T C Smout, A History Of The Scottish People, Collins 1969, p.164
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84:
bowling green (from 1883) and clubhouse also outwith the park.
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452:
Leith Links is noteworthy for its high concentration of mature
453:
174:
was playing golf on Leith Links in 1619 when he had a vision.
1142:
704:
Harris, Stuart, 'The Fortifications and Siege of Leith', in
237:
by the Duke's partner, the Edinburgh cobbler John Paterson.
115:
were held on Leith Sands at the edge of the original links.
325:
Lochend Doocot, believed to have been used as a plague kiln
314:
where plague was reported after the town's surrender to
151:
the siege in April 1560. However, a contemporary map at
863:
D Robertson (ed.), South Leith Records, Edinburgh 1911
694:
vol. 1 (1898), 231-2, French copy dated 23 July 1559.
167:
The earthwork known as "Giant's Brae", on Leith Links
610:
Unidentified elm, south corner of Leith Links, 2016
103:(since 2010) is held on the Links in late August
396:The entrance to Seafield Cemetery, Leith Links
209:. The clubhouse was on the site of the former
965:
8:
744:"Foundation of world's first golf club 1744"
598:cultivar, Hermitage Place, Leith Links, 2016
708:, vol. 121, (1991), pp. 361–62 & fn. 21
373:in 2018 and marked with a memorial plaque.
972:
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1119:Regent, Royal and Carlton Terrace Gardens
620:The perimeter of the park is serviced by
546:cultivar, Duncan Place, Leith Links, 2016
413:until they vacated the site around 2005.
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405:are located to the south of the Links.
690:, Bannatyne Club, vol. 2 (1846), 377:
676:Leith Festival | Gala Day: 9 June 2012
139:, at the Links, who agreed to vacate
41:) is the principal open space within
7:
583:, Hermitage Place, Leith Links, 2016
464:, though there are also examples of
216:Royal and Ancient Company of Golfers
1214:Golf clubs and courses in Edinburgh
568:, Claremont Park, Leith Links, 2016
513:, Vanburgh Place, Leith Links, 2016
851:The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club
814:Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
127:, on 25 July 1559, the Protestant
22:Leith Links looking south towards
14:
385:Former Leith Academy building by
656:consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk
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588:
573:
551:
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531:, Links Place, Leith Links, 2016
518:
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289:the middle of the 17th century.
244:Golfers at Leith Links in 1867 (
135:with the Catholic Queen Regent,
731:Cassell's Old and New Edinburgh
719:Cassell's Old and New Edinburgh
1204:Parks and commons in Edinburgh
1124:Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
943:Chronological map of Edinburgh
1:
193:Leith Links is famous in the
818:National Library of Scotland
437:playing golf - on north edge
424:(now converted to housing).
306:resulted from the spread of
788:The Life and Times of Leith
99:Gala Day is held here. The
95:In the first week of June,
1230:
1199:Sports venues in Edinburgh
688:History of The Reformation
1140:
992:
472:, of exotic species like
331:South Leith Parish Church
129:Lords of the Congregation
1175:55.9710389°N 3.1639694°W
45:, the docks district of
1037:Craigmillar Castle Park
909:Traditions of Edinburgh
544:Convex-leaved field elm
377:Surrounding development
1180:55.9710389; -3.1639694
1148:
1109:Princes Street Gardens
397:
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92:
91:Edinburgh Mela in 2012
38:
26:
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981:Parks and gardens in
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180:Captain John Porteous
166:
143:and leave Edinburgh.
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21:
1114:Queen Street Gardens
1099:Moray Estate Gardens
456:, despite losses to
318:on 19 October 1644.
280:, and George Morris.
176:Charles I of England
125:Scottish Reformation
1171: /
1094:London Road Gardens
876:. 28 November 2017.
790:, by James Marshall
1149:
1052:Hermitage of Braid
1032:Craiglockhart Hill
474:European White Elm
468:, of the variable
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327:
312:Siege of Newcastle
303:
293:The Plague of 1645
282:
169:
93:
27:
1154:
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1027:Corstorphine Hill
1007:Bruntsfield Links
633:Foot of the Walk.
458:Dutch elm disease
411:United Distillers
371:Rosebank Cemetery
218:on their move to
78:Benjamin Franklin
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1022:Charlotte Square
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890:(Edinburgh 1996)
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278:Young Tom Morris
270:Willie Dunn, Sr.
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387:Reid and Forbes
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337:and the town's
329:The records of
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207:Holyrood Palace
201:and the future
195:history of golf
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35:Scottish Gaelic
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316:General Leslie
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264:, Jamie Dunn,
262:Jamie Anderson
227:Duke of Albany
184:Lord Balmerino
148:Siege of Leith
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101:Edinburgh Mela
97:Leith Festival
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55:Firth of Forth
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211:Leith Academy
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39:Fìghdean Lìte
36:
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24:Arthur's Seat
20:
16:
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1089:Lochend Park
1083:
1047:Dean Gardens
1042:Dalmeny Park
1012:Cammo Estate
942:
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898:Bibliography
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747:. Retrieved
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686:Knox, John,
682:
671:
659:. Retrieved
655:
646:
632:
627:The nearest
626:
619:
563:
559:
529:'Rueppellii'
526:
508:
504:
486:
478:Japanese Elm
451:
435:John Rattray
419:
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407:
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368:
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339:Water Bailie
335:Kirk Session
328:
304:
287:
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272:, A. Greig,
245:
231:Golfers Land
224:
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170:
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110:
94:
75:
68:
65:Current uses
30:
28:
15:
1178: /
1166:3°9′50.29″W
1104:The Meadows
1084:Leith Links
1017:Calton Hill
1002:Braid Hills
886:Ian Nimmo,
566:'Dauvessei'
527:Ulmus minor
511:'Viminalis'
482:English Elm
220:St. Andrews
146:During the
123:During the
113:Leith Races
31:Leith Links
1193:Categories
926:0550735208
874:"Kertamen"
638:References
564:hollandica
509:hollandica
433:Statue of
347:quarantine
266:Willie Dow
254:Davie Park
235:Royal Mile
82:lawn bowls
59:golf links
985:Edinburgh
913:Edinburgh
907:(1996) .
629:tram stop
616:Transport
596:Dutch elm
470:Field Elm
448:Botanical
428:Monuments
222:in 1777.
199:Charles I
186:in 1724.
47:Edinburgh
917:Chambers
853:. xxxii.
462:wych elm
351:overseer
258:Bob Kirk
153:Petworth
71:petanque
51:Scotland
749:16 June
661:11 July
489:'Regal'
364:Lochend
233:on the
131:made a
119:History
945:(1919)
923:
360:doocot
308:typhus
157:Pilrig
1209:Leith
560:Ulmus
505:Ulmus
487:Ulmus
133:truce
43:Leith
921:ISBN
751:2014
706:PSAS
663:2024
476:and
454:elms
631:is
1195::
919:.
915::
911:.
833:^
654:.
562:×
507:×
276:,
268:,
260:,
256:,
252:,
248:)
61:.
49:,
37::
973:e
966:t
959:v
929:.
803:.
753:.
665:.
33:(
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